System configuration data is transferred from a master integrated circuit to a shadow integrated circuit in a computer system before the system is initialized. The configuration data is initially stored in configuration registers in the master integrated circuit. The configuration data may include values that are programmed via hardware (e.g., strapped pin values) or software (e.g., default or overridden values). A CPU accesses the configuration data in the configuration registers through a host module of the shadow integrated circuit. A copy of the configuration data is transferred to shadow registers in the shadow integrated circuit. After system initialization, the CPU may execute software to read configuration values directly from the configuration registers on the master integrated circuit. The CPU may also execute a write operation on the configuration data in both the configuration registers and the shadow registers such that the configuration settings are consistent across the system.